Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS655

Incident date

October 27, 2023

Location

ساحة ازادي, Azadi Square, city of Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik), Qamishlo canton, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 27, 2023, an 11-year-old child Ahmed Shaheen was injured alongside a 39-year-old woman Avin Khalil, and later died of his injuries inflicted by an drone strike declared by the Turkish military on the Azadi Square in Al-Malikiyah city, also known as Dayrik, in the Hasakah countryside, Syria, an area under the influence of the Autonomous Administration.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), the strike also killed a senior commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the coordinator with the International Coalition Forces, Shibli Dirik (Farhad Derik), when he was leaving his home in Azadi Square. According to SOHR, Dirik had previously been targeted in a failed assassination attempt by a Turkish drone. Multiple sources on social media posted the images of the deceased militant.

SOHR reported that the injured child and woman were hospitalized in a hospital in Hasakah. Later on the same day, October 27, 2023, SOHR provided an update claiming that the child died due to the wounds.

The airstrike was also reported by multiple prominent local media outlets, which corroborated the location, number of the victims, their identities, ages, and information regarding the suspected belligerent. One source, Qamishlo now, claimed that two children were injured as a result of the attack; however, it did not provide details regarding the identity of the victim.

On the day of the incident, a local news outlet on Facebook posted a video which appeared to show the remains of a shell, allegedly as a result of the attack. Meanwhile, another media agency shared a picture showing the damage to the house with a broken window and the remains of the shell on the ground.

The Turkish government released a statement through state-run Anadolu Agency that the Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) “neutralized terrorist Muhammed Azo [his Arabic name rather than his Kurdish name], the so-called Derik brigade leader of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, in an operation in northern Syria.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Shaheen أحمد شاهين
11 years old male killed
Avin Khalil أفين خليل
39 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Source: Derke Hamko facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo voice facebook
  • Source: Kobani live facebook
  • Source: Qamishlo now facebook

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Known belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Turkish Military

According to information obtained from security sources, Muhammed Azo was targeted by MİT last year, but he survived the operation injured.

Action was taken after it was determined that terrorist Azo, who was sent abroad by the terrorist organization PKK/YPG for treatment, returned to Derik in northern Syria.

MİT neutralized terrorist Azo, the so-called Derik brigade leader of the terrorist organization PKK/YPG, in an operation in northern Syria.

Terrorist Muhammed Azo was wanted on the grounds that he was the perpetrator of the attack on the Yakacık Police Station of the 1st Border Battalion Command on the Şırnak/Cizre-Silopi road on February 2, 2022, in which private Tarık Tarcan was martyred and 3 soldiers were injured, 20 days before his discharge. .

While Muhammed Azo was serving as the so-called brigade officer in the terrorist organization, he served as the coordination officer of the joint exercise in which 250 PYD/YPG terrorists participated with the United States in Derik in northern Syria on September 7, 2022, and posed candidly with US soldiers. was also determined.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS131

Incident date

January 27, 2018

Location

راحو, Rajo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that six adult male civilians were injured in the Rajo area of Afrin Canton.

In a report shared with Airwars, six adults were named as injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it also “monitored the continued Turkish forces shelling in areas of Afrin countryside. The bombing focused on the areas of Balbala, Rajo and Jenders, resulting in more material damage, and a number of other wounded”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Agid Hussen Sedo
29 years old injured
Omar Muhammad
34 years old male injured
Cuma Shaban
32 years old injured
Samer Nabo
35 years old injured
Geker Derbasea
25 years old injured
Khengo Zekerya Nabo
27 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo (راحو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS162

Incident date

February 7, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report, the Kurdish Red Crescent named the following one civilian was wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Bulbul.

The type of weapon used is unknown.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Rashid
30 years old male injury to the ear injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS194

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Location

بعدينو٫شيخ بلو٫ راجو , Ba'adino, Sheikh Billo, Rajo district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.620000, 36.690833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Sheikh Billo in Afrin’s Rajo district.

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported two injured in an intensive shelling by allegedly the Turk on Sheikh Billo in Afrin’s Rajo district.

A private report from KRC reported the names and type of injury of the two adult males.

Please note, some of the images from TS193 are also reported for this incident. We are unable to determine which incident they belong to.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haitham Mustafa Ali
31 years old male shrapnel wound injured
Mohammed Aref Hannan
55 years old male head injury injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ba’adino, Sheikh Billo, Rajo district, Afrin (بعدينو٫شيخ بلو٫ راجو ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.620000, 36.690833. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS226

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

عرب ويران, Arab Weyran, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.678333, 36.994444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to IC Afrin resistance, “Mihemed Sido Yusif, from Rejio/Bedina, Fayiq Cafer from Shera/Arab Werane [Syria] and Durshata Mihemed Ali, also from Shera/Arab Werane, were heavily injured by Turkish jets.”

The victims were also named by Rojnews.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mihemed Sido Yusif
Age unknown from Rejio/Bedina injured
Fayiq Cafer
Age unknown from Shera/Arab Werane injured
Durshata Mihemed Ali
Age unknown also from Shera/Arab Werane injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: # Afrin Violent clashes continue in the village of Arab and Oran and Omra, which is part of the evil of Afrin between the fighters of the units of protection of the people and women on the one hand, the Turkish occupation army and mercenaries on the other, while the Turkish army planes bombed the region
  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Weyran, Afrin (عرب ويران), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.678333, 36.994444. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS258

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

سري كانية, عفرين, Siri Kanaida, Syrian-Turkish border, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.848208, 40.078991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that three civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish mortar attack in Siri Kanai on the Syrian-Turkish border. The victims were reportedly taken to hospital where they were in a stable condition.

According to Hawar, three people were injured in Sri Kanaia as a result of the Turkish occupation army launched mortar shells landed in the neighbourhood of the station near the border between the area of Sri Kaniyah and Bakur Kurdistan, amid the flight of Turkish reconnaissance aircraft over the skies of the region.

According to a source, the three wounded civilians had sought refuge in the hospital of Kanye for treatment. Another added that the three people were lightly injured, were treated and then left the hospital and one was transferred to the city of Qamishli to check on the health of some of her family.

There were various sources named the two victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

18 years old via ROK injured
13 years old via ROK injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows a woman, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Siri Kanaida, Syrian-Turkish border, Afrin, 8th March 2018. (via: Hawar news)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS093

Incident date

September 1, 2017

Location

كفر لوسين, Kafr Luseen, Turkish-Syrian borders, Syria

Geolocation

36.256667, 36.716111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, the Step News Agency, reported that “a child was wounded by bullets fired by the Turkish army is in the camp of Zahra_Gulf in the area of Kafr Luseen on the border with Turkey and was transferred to a nearby hospital.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kafr Luseen, Turkish-Syrian borders ( كفر لوسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.256667, 36.716111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS301

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

En route to Girê Spî/ Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.427499, 38.980717 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three to five civilians were reported killed and many others injured in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike on a civilians’ convoy on the way from Raqqa to Tal Abyad city, on October 10th 2019, according to local media sources.

The sources said the civilians were heading to Tal Abyad to participate in a protest against the Turkish attacks when their convoy was hit.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ammar abdu Altaym
18 years old male killed
Ahmad Mohammad Altaym
24 years old male killed

Family members (4)

Bashshar Ahmad Sanjar
19 years old male killed
Ahmad Jasem Alabed
21 years old male killed
Ezzeldeen Abdulaziz Mohammad
18 years old male killed
Ali Moustafa Moustafa
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of En route to Girê Spî/ Tal Abyad, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.427499, 38.980717. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]